Proterra announced today that Josh Ensign has joined its management team as chief operating officer. A military veteran and former executive of Honeywell International and Tesla Motors, Ensign’s track record includes leading global operations for 42 factories in 15 countries and managing the supporting supply chains.
Ensign will support Proterra’s next phase of strategic growth by scaling existing operations at Proterra’s Greenville, S.C. facility and bringing its Los Angeles County facility and battery manufacturing operations online in early 2017. Under Ensign’s leadership, Proterra expects to triple production in its East Coast facility and initiate production in Southern California in 2017.
“Mass transit in North America represents a $3 billion market opportunity, and my top priority will be to help Proterra establish a competitive U.S. manufacturing presence to meet market demand and to support the industry’s transition to an all-electric future,” said Josh Ensign, Chief Operating Officer at Proterra.
As VP of manufacturing at Tesla Motors, Ensign was responsible for all manufacturing activities at the Fremont, Calif. production site. This included the installation of the current Model S high-volume production line, the launch of both the dual-motor platform and the Model X, and the establishment of Tesla’s new seat manufacturing facility. Before Tesla, Ensign led global operations in Honeywell International’s automotive and aerospace businesses. Ensign has extensive functional experience in supply chain, logistics, purchasing, and manufacturing and has lived and operated abroad in Germany, Mexico, China and Switzerland.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
Rolling out in electric yellow and seafoam blue, the first battery-electric buses purchased from GILLIG will begin serving riders in south King County on February 2.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at HDR, MCTS, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
While their comprehensive analysis of bus stops focused on Massachusetts, the researchers are excited about the generalizability of the findings and application to other locations.
CEO Nat Ford’s address offered a look at highlights from 2025, with a focus on the future and the innovative ways the JTA is shaping mobility in Northeast Florida.
